Honor guard made up by members of the Pomona Police Department present the colors at Officer Greggory Casillas Memorial Highway plaque unveiling ceremony at Hacienda Park in Pomona, March 8, 2019. (Photo by Yunuen Bonaparte, Contributing photographer)

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Assemblymember Freddie Rodriguez delivers the welcoming remarks during Officer Greggory Casillas Memorial Highway plaque unveiling ceremony at Hacienda Park in Pomona, March 8, 2019. He wrote the bill for the memorial and had it approved by the California State Legislature. (Photo by Yunuen Bonaparte, Contributing photographer)

Members of the Pomona Police Department hold the program for Officer Greggory Casillas Memorial Highway plaque unveiling ceremony at Hacienda Park in Pomona March 8, 2019. (Photo by Yunuen Bonaparte, Contributing photographer)

Senator Connie M. Leyva gives her remarks during Officer Greggory Casillas Memorial Highway plaque unveiling ceremony at Hacienda Park in Pomona, March 8, 2019. She co-wrote the bill and was key for the approval of the memorial by the California State Legislature. (Photo by Yunuen Bonaparte, Contributing photographer)

Assemblymember Freddie Rodriguez stands next to the portrait of Officer Greggory Casillas during the Memorial Highway plaque unveiling ceremony on Casillas’ honor at Hacienda Park in Pomona, March 8, 2019. (Photo by Yunuen Bonaparte, Contributing photographer)

Mr. Greggory Casillas IV, father of the slain Officer Greggory Casillas, delivers short and touching remarks during the unveiling ceremony of his son’s Memorial Highway plaque at Hacienda Park in Pomona March 8, 2019. (Photo by Yunuen Bonaparte, Contributing photographer)

Officer Alex Nguyen stands next to Officer Greggory Casillas Memorial Highway plaque during the unveiling ceremony at Hacienda Park in Pomona, March 8, 2019. A scar from the incident where Officer Casillas was killed and he wounded is still visible on his left cheek. (Photo by Yunuen Bonaparte, Contributing photographer)

Assemblymember Freddie Rodriguez gives a framed California Assembly Resolution certificate and a small version of the Memorial Highway plaque to Claudia Casillas, Officer Greggory Casillas’ widow, after the unveiling ceremony at Hacienda Park in Pomona, March 8, 2019. (Photo by Yunuen Bonaparte, Contributing photographer)

Assemblymember Freddie Rodriguez gives a framed California Assembly Resolution certificate and a small version of the Memorial Highway plaque to Mr. Greggory Casillas IV, Officer Greggory Casillas’ father, after the unveiling ceremony at Hacienda Park in Pomona, March 8, 2019. (Photo by Yunuen Bonaparte, Contributing photographer)

Officer Greggory Casillas’ widow, Claudia Casillas poses with her son for a photo in front of Officer Greggory Casillas Memorial Highway plaque after the unveiling ceremony at Hacienda Park in Pomona, March 8, 2019. (Photo by Yunuen Bonaparte, Contributing photographer)

Pomona resident, Ivan Ledezma, offers his condolences to Officer Greggory Casillas’ mom, Marisela Casillas, and brother, Shaun Casillas, after the Memorial Highway plaque unveiling ceremony at Hacienda Park in Pomona, March 8, 2019. Ledezma met Officer Casillas when he used to visit the local Arco gas station where Ledezma works. Ledezma is happy Officer Casillas is being recognized for his service. (Photo by Yunuen Bonaparte, Contributing photographer)

“We can’t ever normalize or accept that anyone in public service should make this ultimate sacrifice,” said Pomona Police Chief Michael Olivieri before he, Casillas’ father, Greggory Casillas IV and Casillas’ training officer, Alex Nguyen, unveiled the sign. Nguyen was with Casillas the night of the fatal shooting and was struck by gunfire himself.

Tearful family members thanked those at the ceremony, his father saying he “appreciated” everyone’s support.

Casillas, 30, had been a sworn officer for about six months when he was fatally shot by Isaias De Jesus Valencia, 39, of Pomona, in 2018, police have said.

“I’m just so proud to see how this department has rallied around the Casillas family and how we will continue to do so,” Olivieri said.

The portion of the 10 Freeway named after Casillas will stretch from Mountain Avenue in Upland — where Casillas and his family live — to Towne Avenue in Pomona. Officer Diamond’s memorial highway picks up at Towne Avenue and continues to the 57 Freeway.

Beatriz E. Valenzuela is an award-winning journalist who’s covered breaking news in Southern California since 2006 and has been on the front lines of several national and international news events. She’s worked for media outlets serving Southern California readers covering education, local government, entertainment and all things nerd including comic book culture and video games. She’s an amateur obstacle course racer, constant fact-checker, mother of three and lover of all things adorable.